N.Korea 'Poised to Deploy Long-Range Missiles'

North Korea has taken steps to deploy road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of striking the U.S. mainland, U.S. intelligence authorities claim.

According to sources in Washington, the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper in a statement to the House Appropriations Committee's Defense Subcommittee last Wednesday claimed the North has already taken steps toward deploying the KN-08 missiles warfare-ready, even though it has not test-fired them yet.

Clapper also reportedly said the North is concentrating efforts on making missiles and weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, because of its weakened conventional warfare capabilities.

The KN-08 missile, which the North displayed on regime founder Kim Il-sung's birthday in 2012 and in a military parade marking the anniversary of the armistice in 2013, is believed to have a range of up to 12,000 km, which would theoretically put the U.S. mainland just within reach.

Meanwhile, Clapper said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has strengthened his rule through purges, executions, and reshuffles in the leadership in the last three years.

Read this article in Korean